How to Boil Eggs

A complete step by step guide to learn how to boil eggs to make them perfectly soft-boiled, medium or hard-boiled. These eggs are very easy to peel too!

You can serve them for breakfast or brunch, use to make deviled eggs, a cobb salad or an egg salad.

Learning how to perfectly boil eggs is a kitchen basic, that everyone should know. Today I am sharing my tips for cooking the best boiled eggs. This fail-proof method lets you make perfect soft-boiled, medium or hard-boiled eggs. The addition of salt and the ice water bath makes them very easy to peel. I use them for salads, on sandwiches, as a snack.

How to boil eggs?

Remove your eggs from the fridge and set them on the counter.

Fill a pot halfway with tap water. Stir in salt.

Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Once boiling, turn the heat down to low heat and carefully place eggs in the pot.

Cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat back to medium heat. Cook eggs according to the chart below, depending on how soft or hard boiled you need them.

Fill a large bowl with water and ice. Set aside.

After the cooking time. remove the eggs from water and immediately place them in a bowl with ice water.

Chill the eggs for at least 10 minutes.

Peel by gently tapping the bottom of the egg against the counter, then roll it around to loosen the shell. Peel it off. It should come off easily.

Cooking times:

1. Soft-Boiled Eggs

Boil eggs for 7 to 8 minutes. This egg is perfect for Asian pho soup too! If you like a very runny yolk, cook for exactly 6 minutes.

2. Medium Eggs

Boil for 10 minutes. The yolk will have a softer center, the whites will be cooked.

3. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Boil for 12 to 14 minutes. These eggs are perfect for deviled eggs, egg salads and to slice on sandwiches.

How to cook them so they peel easily?

Just like my mom and my grandma, I’ve always added a teaspoon of salt to the boiling water for cooking eggs. Also, the ice bath (not just cold water, but with actual ice cubes) helps here too. The shell pretty much peels off in one piece. It is helpful to start at the bottom of the egg where there is often a bubble of air. I gently tap that side against a counter or the side of the bowl and roll the egg to loosen up the shell. Then remove it. It’s so easy!

Microwave instructions:

This method is best for cooking hard-boiled eggs. The rule is the same: cook water in a microwave-safe bowl until boiling. Add eggs and cook for 10 minutes. Carefully remove from the microwave and place the eggs in an ice-water bath.

Storing:

Boiled eggs should always be stored in a fridge. Hard-boiled eggs will stay good for up to 1 week. If you peel them before refrigerating, place them in a bowl and cover with water. It will prevent them from drying out.

A complete step by step guide to boiling eggs to make them perfectly soft-boiled, medium or hard-boiled. These eggs are very easy to peel too! You can serve them for breakfast or brunch, use to make deviled eggs, a cobb salad or an egg salad.